Dalhousie University in Halifax is investigating a complaint that a group of male dentistry students were using Facebook to post sexually explicit comments objectifying and promoting the use of sexual violence against female students.

“It has come to our attention that there were inappropriate comments that were posted and shared on a private Facebook group … that was connected to the Dalhousie dentistry … students,” university spokesman Brian Leadbetter said in a telephone interview Monday evening.

“The university does take these allegations very seriously and, as a result, we are taking steps available to us to address the matter.”

University president Richard Florizone issued a statement indicating at least one of those steps later Monday.

“Given the significance of the issue and the anxiety it has caused for our students, we have also made the decision to cancel the remaining fourth-year exams in the Faculty of Dentistry effective immediately,” he wrote. “These exams will be rescheduled in January 2015.”

In his statement, Florizone also said the school will take a “victim-centred” approach that will focus on “understanding and repairing the harm caused.”

Florizone said the university intends to communicate its direction on this matter before the end of this week.

“As members of the university community we have a clear responsibility to ensure that the university’s working and learning environment is free from harassment.”

According to CBC, at least a dozen male students belonged to a Facebook group called the Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen.

Although the Facebook group has been taken down, CBC obtained copies of postings that allegedly had been made on the site.

In one post, the members were encouraged to chose between two female students and vote for which one they would most like to “hate f--k,” CBC reported.

Another post included a picture of a bikini-clad woman with the caption “Bang until stress is relieved or unconscious (girl),” CBC said.

Leadbetter said “we’re not able to speak to the specifics of any of the allegations because it is the university’s established practice to respect the privacy and confidentiality of both current and former students.”

School officials are reviewing information they have received, he said.

“Based on the severity of the allegations and that they do involve a number of people and that they are quite complex, we’re still accessing appropriate next steps. So it would be really premature for us to speak to any possible outcome.”

The school also has a sexual harassment policy that relates to Dalhousie as a workplace and as a learning institution.

“There are steps within that (policy) to actually work through should this (complaint) flow through that process” Leadbetter said.